West Midlands Ghost Club

Thursday May 9th 2019

I first visited historic Haden Hill House / Haden Hall - in Rowley Regis - during the latter half of the 1980's.  I'll happily admit that, at the time, I'd been led to believe that the structure had actually been 'demolished' a few years earlier.... so my trip to the region was purely in order to take a look-see at the spot where the place 'used to stand'.  Thankfully, however, it appears the article that I'd read - from a few years earlier - had been somewhat premature in it's suggestions that the local corporation would be 'tearing the site down' and, instead of an open space, I was overjoyed to find the place was still very much there!! 

At the time of this initial visit, the Victorian portion of the site - Haden Hill House - was undergoing a huge renovation project... which is responsible for the magnificent building that you see today.  Referring to the photograph above, the left-hand portion of the image is the aforementioned, 1870's house, while the right-hand section shows the 17th Century 'Haden Hall'.  (The latter wing is also shown here).  

  During the restoration period, the entire site was understandably 'fenced off' from the public, but a workman had spotted yours truly - mooching around the perimeter - and, sidling over, had asked if I was interested in what was going on?  Replying in the affirmative, I then found myself treated to a comprehensive tour of the entire site!

As readers can possibly guess, there are a number of legends and ghost stories associated with the location and, in more recent years, the place has played host to numerous paranormal investigations and tours.

Possibly the most famous spooky legend is that of 2 lovers.... a 'monk' from Halesowen Abbey and 'Eleanor', the daughter of a Hayseech miller.  (*The identity of the female does sometimes change from telling to telling, however!)  A staple of such stories, their relationship was conducted in secret... until they were discovered and allegedly 'walled up alive' in a tunnel, one end of which surfaced in the cellars of Haden Hall.  As a result, the apparition of Eleanor - clad in white and wringing her hands in despair - is said to haunt the building.......  Certain stories say that the monk appears in a particular, upstairs room in the property.

Confusingly, there seem to be a number of locations in the vicinity where a female ghost - or different female ghosts - have reportedly been seen?  In the surrounding parkland, for example, a typical 'grey / white lady' style figure has often been reported.... as well as a young woman in 'blue garb' being spotted sitting at the edge of the nearby pool....  (Image here).   Staff associated with the property are also said to have seen a 'blue lady' during the 1960's.

The older, Haden Hall is also said to play host to an elderly, female ghost.... that of Eliza Haden, who apparently lived here, alone, until her death in the early 20th Century.  Her apparition is said to have been seen peering from the upper windows of the house and, during the 1970's, a photograph was taken that supposedly shows her face sadly gazing down from the attic area!?  It was also during the 1970's that at least one 'ghost hunt' was held in this older section of the building... and I have a handful of scanned photographs in my files taken from images obtained during this investigation.

  
Returning to the 'physical history' of the place, the Haden Hall section of the site had been allowed to remain in a semi-derelict state for a number of decades until recent renovations thankfully restored it to it's current, majestic condition.  While meaning to re-visit the site in more recent times, it wasn't until only a few days ago - May Bank Holiday Monday - that I was finally able to actually see the wonderfully reconstructed property.  It was a most happy coincidence that this recent decision to go and re-acquaint myself with the location happened to fall on a day when a 'Wartime-themed' festival was being held there... meaning that both houses were fully open to the public, as well as numerous 1940's-styled exhibits and attractions to boot!  Relative to this period - serendipitously - a number of the ghost stories associated with the property actually hail from the WWII period, when 'catering' activities being carried out there had to cease due to staff strictly refusing to enter the site at night! 

Whatever the validity of the aforementioned tales, the site itself is an utterly fascinating and beautiful spot to visit, if you should ever get the chance.....  Please check the official Sandwell Council website for the Hall / House HERE and keep an eye out for forthcoming events and attractions.